Adam Wainwright backs off comment that he grooved pitches to Derek Jeter

MINNEAPOLIS — National League All-Star starting pitcher Adam Wainwright admitted that he intentionally gave Derek Jeter some pitches to hit in the shortstop’s final All-Star Game appearance. Jeter lined an opposite-field double in his only at-bat against Wainwright on Tuesday.

Yes, it would seem as though Adam Wainwright was entirely serious about giving Jeter a cookie, like Chan Ho Park did with Cal RIpken.

Well that seems silly. If Wainwright felt Jeter deserved to get some pitches to drive, then, well, sure. It’s an exhibition, after all, and Jeter earned the respect of his peers.

But admitting that you grooved a pitch defeats the purpose of grooving a pitch. If the idea is to give Jeter an opportunity to shine, then you can’t sully the moment by suggesting he had it easy. Does anyone think Derek Jeter wanted a meatball in that spot?

UPDATE: In a televised interview later in the game, Wainwright backed off his earlier comments and said he was joking about dealing meatballs to Jeter.

Adam Wainwright backs off comment that he grooved pitches to Derek Jeter

The National League All-Star starter defeated the purpose of grooving pitches to Derek Jeter by talking about it.

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